What does “holy” mean?
What does “holy” mean? What does it mean to be “holy?” Today there are many times you will see or hear the word ‘holy’ often used and missed in secular contexts. How many times have you heard “holy” used in “holy cow” or quite common and biblical “holy ground,” or other times it is used with profane language, diminished as to its true meaning and importance as a word.
Just what does “holy” mean? What does it mean to us as Christians?
The first use of the word “holy” in the “Holy” Bible is found in the book of Exodus.
Exodus 3:5
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
What is going on here in this scripture?
Exodus 3:1-6
¶ Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2 And the angel of YHWH appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when YHWH saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
We can see that an angel of God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush and God called out to Moses, commanding Moses to take off his shoes for the ground he stood upon was “holy ground.” The ground Moses stands upon is ground that is in presence of Almighty God. This marks the first time in the Holy Bible that God appears to Moses.
So what does the word “holy” mean in this context?
“Holy” is the English word for the Hebrew word qodesh.
qodesh ko’-desh, Hebrew 06944, Strong’s
from 06942; n m; [BDB-871b] {See TWOT on 1990 @@ "1990a"}
AV-holy 262, sanctuary 68, (holy, hallowed, … ) things 52, most 44, holiness 30, dedicated 5, hallowed 3, consecrated 1, misc 3; 468
1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness
1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness
1a1) of God
1a2) of places
1a3) of things
1b) set-apartness, separateness
The Hebrew word qodesh has a root word in Hebrew, qadash.
qadash kaw-dash’, Hebrew 06942, Strong’s
a primitive root; v; [BDB-872b] {See TWOT on 1990}
AV-sanctify 108, hallow 25, dedicate 10, holy 7, prepare 7, consecrate 5, appointed 1, bid 1, purified 1, misc 7; 172
1) to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be set apart, be consecrated
1a2) to be hallowed
1a3) consecrated, tabooed
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to show oneself sacred or majestic
1b2) to be honoured, be treated as sacred
1b3) to be holy
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to set apart as sacred, consecrate, dedicate
1c2) to observe as holy, keep sacred
1c3) to honour as sacred, hallow
1c4) to consecrate
1d) (Pual)
1d1) to be consecrated
1d2) consecrated, dedicated
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to set apart, devote, consecrate
1e2) to regard or treat as sacred or hallow
1e3) to consecrate
1f) (Hithpael)
1f1) to keep oneself apart or separate
1f2) to cause Himself to be hallowed (of God)
1f3) to be observed as holy
1f4) to consecrate oneself
Both Hebrew words are similar, meaning to be hallowed, or sacred, dedicated, consecrated, to be separate, or set apart.
Something that is holy is special, honored greatly, respected highly, held high, and separated from all other things, and held apart from others.
So now we have some idea of what “holy” means, let us go through the Bible and see what the scriptures can tell us what is “holy” to God.
Exodus 12:16
And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
The word “convocation” here means an assembly of people, a gathering together. This “holy convocation” was a sacred gathering together of the people by God. The first day and seventh day, in this context, were set apart for a sacred assembly of the people of Israel.
No work was to be done as to separate, or hallow the day, to be used a holy time period for the gathering of the people.
Let’s read the next use of “holy.”
Exodus 15:13
Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
This use of “holy” is a part of song sung by Moses to God after the children of Israel were saved by God and brought through Red Sea leaving Egypt.
It refers to a “holy habitation,” God’s holy habitation, or God’s residence, or His dwelling. The place where God dwells is holy, or separate, sanctified, hallowed, and highly esteemed.
Let’s read the next use of “holy.”
Exodus 16:23
And he said unto them, This is that which YHWH hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto YHWH: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
God has separated or set apart the Sabbath. It is holy. The Sabbath, or the seventh day, was sanctified, to be respected, and to be greatly honored by God, and by the children of Israel.
Let’s read the next use of “holy.”
Exodus 19:6
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Here God is speaking to Moses saying the children of Israel shall become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
The word “holy” in this scripture differs slightly, but means essentially the same meaning, it is the Hebrew word qadowsh.
qadowsh kaw-doshe’ or qadosh kaw-doshe’, Hebrew 06918, Strong’s
from 06942; adj; [BDB-872b] {See TWOT on 1990 @@ "1990b"}
AV-holy 65, Holy One 39, saint 12; 116
1) sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart
So Israel, as a nation of priests, will be set apart or deemed holy by God.
Let’s read the next use of “holy.”
Exodus 20:8
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
This is a commandment by God to keep the Sabbath or this time period of the seventh day to be sanctified or set apart.
In the next scripture God says to the Levites, who were charged with holy ceremonial duties to God, that they shall be “holy men.”
Exodus 22:31
And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
God expected his people who were deemed by God holy, to be separated, and clean, and sanctified, purified from that which was unholy or profane or unconsecrated, and unsanctified.
Let’s read the next use of “holy.”
Exodus 26:33
And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.
God here, deems a place as “holy” and a place which is “most holy.”
This scripture is referring to God’s tabernacle (or tent) which is considered by God as holy and sanctified, separate from all the rest of the camp of Israel. Inside the tabernacle was a division of the tabernacle space by a thick veil considered by God as the “most holy” place.
In this way, God has separated the people from his holy place, or the tabernacle, and inside the tabernacle God has further separated himself in an area considered holy behind the veil from those whom were deemed by God holy to work inside or outside the tabernacle of God.
Read the next scripture.
Exodus 26:34
And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place
This scripture mentions the ark of the covenant where God’s law was kept inside the ark. The ark of covenant was also kept in the holy place or “holiest of all” as it was called in the Bible, in the holy space kept separate behind the veil inside the tabernacle of God.
The next scripture refers to holy garments.
Exodus 28:4
And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
Some of the Israelites, in particular the Levites of the tribe of Levi, were chosen to be separate from the other Israelites as holy to God for the service in the tabernacle and ceremonies for God. Here the Levites are commanded by God to make holy garments to be worn during the holy ceremonial duties to God. These garments were later consecrated by sacrifices to God through holy rituals before God.
In the next scripture it refers to “holy gifts.”
Exodus 28:38
And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before YHWH.
Things judged by God to be holy were separate or hollowed and considered consecrated as their offerings or gifts before YHWH, God.
Among those things were also sacrificial offerings such as animals or bread to be used in holy ceremonies before God.
Exodus 29:34
And if ought of the flesh of the consecrations, or of the bread, remain unto the morning, then thou shalt burn the remainder with fire: it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.
Items used in holy worship services to YHWH were considered as holy.
In the next scripture we can see this concept apply to the person involved in the ceremony.
Exodus 29:37
Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.
Those who minister to the holy things of God, had to be holy themselves and whoever touched something holy also became as holy.
Thus all holy things were kept separated from the general population of Israel, only the holy men or priests could ever minster to God and minister for the people for God.
Holy things included all the things of the tabernacle, chiefly the ark of the covenant, tabernacle services including the alter, the laver, the table of shew bread, the alter of incense, the candle lights, the instruments used in holy ceremonies, the ointment and oil used in holy ceremonies, the garments worn by the priests and other items.
Only holy men could minister in the presence of God.
The next scripture referring to “holy” is a commandment from God to the children of Israel.
Leviticus 11:45
For I am YHWH that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
God commanded Israel, the children of Israel, to be holy because God is holy. Israel was supposed to be holy and practice holiness in all manners of their lives. They were to be separate, sanctified, pure, consecrated by God.
The next scriptures convey the same concept.
Leviticus 20:7
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am YHWH your God.
Leviticus 20:26
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I YHWH am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
God has severed Israel from all other peoples on the earth that they should be set apart to God and solely God’s.
While there are hundreds of uses of the word ‘holy” in the Old Testament, we have pretty much exhausted the Hebrew meaning of the word “holy” as in the Hebrew Old Testament of the Holy Bible.
Next we will look at the New Testament and the Greek word for “holy.”
The first use of “holy” in the New Testament is found in the book of Matthew.
Matthew 1:18
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
The Greek word for “holy” is hagios.
hagios hag’-ee-os, Greek 40, Strong’s
from hagos (an awful thing) [cf 53, 2282]; adj; TDNT-1:88,14; {See TDNT 14}
AV-holy 161, saints 61, Holy One 4, misc 3; 229
Holy, characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration
1) Its highest application is to God himself, in his purity, majesty and glory. {#Lu 1:49 Joh 17:11 Re 4:8}
1a) Of things and places which have a claim to reverence as sacred to God, e.g. the Temple: {#Mt 24:15 Heb 9:1}
1b) Of persons employed by him, as angels: {#1Th 3:13 marg.} prophets, {#Lu 1:70} apostles, {#Eph 3:5}
2) Applied to persons as separated to God’s service:
2a) Of Christ: {#Mr 1:24 Ac 4:30}
2b) Of Christians: {#Ac 9:13 Ro 1:7 Heb 6:10 Re 5:8}
3) In the moral sense of sharing God’s purity: {#Mr 6:20 Joh 17:11 Ac 3:14 Re 3:7}
4) Of pure, clean sacrifices and offerings: {#1Co 7:14 Eph 1:4}
hagnos hag-nos’, Greek 53, Strong’s
from the same as 40; adj; TDNT-1:122,19; {See TDNT 16}
AV-pure 4, chaste 3, clear 1; 8
1) exciting reverence, venerable, sacred
2) pure
2a) pure from carnality, chaste, modest {#Tit 2:5} an unsullied virgin {#2Co 11:2}
2b) pure from every fault, immaculate, clean {#2Co 7:11 Php 4:8 1Ti 5:22 1Pe 3:2 1Jo 3:3 Jas 3:17}
The Greek meaning for “holy” is very similar to the Hebrew, in that it shows the idea of sanctification or being pure or chaste, purified as of God, to be sacred.
Now we will go through the New Testament to get a better idea of what “holy” means.
Matthew 1:20
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Like the first scripture this scripture refers to the “Holy Ghost” or Holy Spirit which by Jesus was conceived and born, by the Spirit of God.
The next scriptural use of “holy” refers to the “holy city.”
Matthew 4:5
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
In this Scripture Jesus is tempted of the devil and taken to the holy city, or Jerusalem, which got separated from all other places where God placed his name there. The devil takes Jesus to the top of the holy temple of God to tempt him.
The next use of “holy” is where Jesus talks with his disciples about not giving that which is holy to dogs.
Matthew 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Do not give that which is pure, sanctified by God to the dogs which profanely roam on all fours and do things which are unclean.
Much of the use of “holy” in the New Testament refers to the “Holy Ghost,” but as you will see other things are mentioned as holy.
In the next scripture Mary, the mother of Jesus, speaks of God’s name as “holy.”
Luke 1:49
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
God’s name is highly honored, highly held, and highly praised.
In the next scripture Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, speaks of the “holy prophets.”
Luke 1:70
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
These were holy men of God who YHWH spoke through to communicate God’s messages directly to Israel.
Zacharias continues to speak of God’s holy covenant.
Luke 1:72
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
The covenant of God was holy.
In the next scripture the author of the Gospel of Luke makes a note regarding the first born male of Israel being dedicated to YHWH.
Luke notes of this Old Testament law as he is speaking of Jesus being the first born son of his mother, Mary, brought to the temple to be dedicated to God.
Luke 2:23
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
The first born male was dedicated and thus holy to God. The first born was separate from his other siblings in this special way to God.
In the next scripture a demon in a man, is speaking to Jesus who is about to expel the ill spirit.
Luke 4:34
Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
The ill spirt identifies Jesus as the “Holy One of God.” Jesus is holy, he is separated to God from all other men as sanctified, sacred, majestic, and glorified of God.
We’ll now skip ahead in the books of the New Testament to the book of Romans as much the word “holy” means the same thing as applied in the four Gospels.
We will briefly look at how disciples understood what was holy.
In the next scripture Paul speaks of the law and the commandment as being holy.
Romans 7:12
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
The Law is pure, Godly, sanctified, sacred, as are the commandments of the law.
In the next scripture, Paul speaks of Christians to present their bodies as a living sacrifice.
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
In the Old Covenant, sacrifices to God were considered holy to God. In the same way, Paul teaches that we should be like a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God.
In the next scripture Paul speaks of those in Christ being as the temple of God.
1st Corinthians 3:17
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
As the temple is holy, we like the temple are holy in God’s sight.
Paul continues on this theme teaches we are, our body is, the temple in which dwells the Holy Spirit of God.
1st Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
As the Spirit of God dwells within those of us who were baptized into Jesus the Christ, our body has become the temple, thus we are holy before God.
In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he teaches this very idea.
Colossians 1:22-23
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Paul teaches that through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we are presented to God “holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.”
In the next Scripture use of “holy” for our study is in a letter to churches by the apostle Peter.
1st Peter 1:15-16
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Peter here teaches holiness as he quotes the words of God from the Old Covenant.
In the same letter to the Church, Peter compares Christians to a spiritual house and a holy priesthood.
1st Peter 2:5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The last scripture we will look at what Peter says the manner Christians ought to be.
2nd Peter 3:11
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
It’s clear the apostles all taught that God is holy and Jesus, is holy, through his death on the cross and holy sacrifice has made us holy before God. We therefore are become like as God, and like God we too should be holy, not only in conversations, but in deeds and how we live our lives.
So to be holy we have learned is to be set apart, sanctified, pure, revered, sacred, all of which are characteristics of God, Godly, or Godliness.
I hope this short study has better shown you what it means to be “holy” and why God commands his people to be such, and live holy before him.
Are you holy before God?
Do you want to be accepted holy before God?
Do you know who can make you holy before God?
Only Jesus can make one holy.
Do you know Jesus?
Have you been baptized in his holy sacrifice?